benji (as some of you may know) has been ill for about 2 weeks now!!
started off-
fri 29th april- projectile vomming/cold sweats/not sleeping (no sleep for 40 hours- other than catnaps of 10mins then waking up as in pain)
sat 30th april- clammy, hot to touch, still no sleep, not eating any food, not wanting bottle.
sun 1st- getting hotter, more clammy, still no sleep, exhaustion and floppy. rang 111 (nhs direct) they state they want to see him, see doc- states they can't find anything wrong with him...check him over twice, nothing...temp of 37.2. Go home and he sleeps from 10.30-2 then 2-5. still not enough sleep!

I keep up with the whole, not eating a thing for about a week, the sleep gets a little better, on average sleeping from 7-2 then 2-4 then bottle...then 4-6 (if i'm lucky!)
anyway i took him to docs the other day, as he started to get small spots on his arms, hands, legs and feet and a red rash on his face
doctor checks him over, can't find anything wrong with him (i mention about his struggling to poop- BIG poops, size of a snicker bar (sorry tmi!!)) i get some powdered medicine which helps move his bowels.

No better, still not eating, and sleep still unsettled...
Yesterday he had a poo with blood in it, not actually around the edge of the poop (again sorry!) but in the poop itself...so i ring docs in a flap, they get him appointment.
Doctor concerned about his eating habits- (will write down below on av what he has!)
checks his bottom for any fissures/cuts...can't see anything, explains there could be some kind of infection in his gut
told to do a wee sample (funny, he has to have pads in his nappy- like mini sanitary towels!!)
anyway i have to take that back to docs today, get that tested (results tomorrow!) if that comes back that he has infection, then it's anti-b's.
If no bad result, then gotta wait it out until monday, if still not better, then i've got to see a paediactric (sp) doc at the hospital, as it could be something to do with his gut...
so stressed at the moment what with OH and 2 weeks of no sleep (me and the LO!)
eating habits-
4-5am wake up screaming, try to settle down with dummy/juice...NOPE! lies in bed with me, has 8-9oz bottle...
7.30am- i make 1 weetabix (which he has his medicine in!) he may eat half...usually he would eat 1and a 1/2!!
(at about 10am he is tired so he has a nap- unusual for him, he never normally slept!!)
12pm- i make some scrummy fresh dinner, pots and brocolli- pasta bake, fresh veg/fruit etc he won't touch it!! he closes his mouth in a tight pursed expression <<3pm he has a 8oz bottle, inbetween 12 and 3 i try him with yogurts, fresh juice, fruit etc...but NOPE! <<< that face again!!
3.30 nap
5pm- i attempt his tea, still
7pm- 8oz bottle, and bed.
This is what he has been like for 2 weeks now!!!
i know benji has a chubby face, but his little body is so thin now (compared to what he used to be like!!)
Taking him to get weighed this afternoon- hope he's put some weight on, i'll be surprised if he has though!!
any advice on what else i can do??

i miss my lil bouncy tigger

Oh honey it's awful when your LO is poorly, you feel so helpless for them. I think you're doing the right things in offering him food and drink regularly and getting the docs involved. Don't worry too much about weight gain, he will make up for it when he's better. In fact if it's just for weighing I wouldn't bother with the HV appt until Benji's better. It's so frustrating though that things like tests can't be done faster to get the answers you need. And of course you're both exhausted.

Big hugs xx

Poor little fella. I wish I could offer some more advice but you have already been to the doctors.

Just keep him as hydrated as you can and if he is no better then take him back.

Xx

are you still spoon feeding him Lou? ava used to do the same and close her mouth as soon as I got near her.


just keep a close eye, make sure he has plenty fluid to make his poo softer and take him back to the docs in the meantime if you're worried. Phone that 111 number I mentioned for a chat, they are really good x

yeah i find they're really good too jo very re-assuring
yeah he is spoon fed for dinners, if i put food on his highchair he just knocks it off and makes a huge mess...he also doesn't like the feel of most foods and just squishes them up...could that have something to do with it?? Am i babying him too much with feeds? He is still pretty much on foods that have the consistency of lumpy mash...he chokes on most lumps, and seems quite behind with most things...maybe i'm just looking too much into things...i just want him well and for him to have a good eat!!
He puked really bad this morning, projectile vommin at about 4am, all over the bed, duvet and in my hair felt like crying
he is eating a slice of toast at the moment...how can i get more water down him? He seems to only drink a lil bit of watery juice at a time, maybe 1 250ml bottle a day (if that!)
xxx

i would say in the short term try
http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/EndecaSearchListerView?storeId=10052&searchTerm=10020148.P&ta=1&typeAhead=true&langId=-1&catalogId=11051#container
in a bottle if hes more likely to drink it that way. also as pinky says maybe give up on trying to spoon feed him justes now and give him a pile of things he could eat with his hands (elijah gets more than p*ssed off if he can't eat things himself and will only sometimes let me feed him)

what i would really recommend is... (i know this is a messy one ) a little pot of yogurt and a little spoon, a lump of cheese, a bit of fruit, some branflakes/cheerios soaked in milk, something carbohydratey like bread or boiled pasta, fish fingers, a blob of ice cream, some brocolli trees, some boiled chicken in lumps, peas, green beans, pot of fruit puree.........you get the idea!!! just a selection of new, interesting and different things and put them on his highchair table

even better if you can, put them in different pots/cups/bowls (thanks pinky ) on his table, now i know there is a lot of mess involved, but it sounds like one of the things that is happening is you are getting soooooooooo stressed and benjy probably is too, that mealtimes are probably a wee bit threatening. so maybe try and make them fun again - with lots of finger foods he can explore at his own pace, have a little adventure and if you can take a step back just keep an eye on him - it might be more likely that he doesn't eat loads but its got to be better than a stressed mummy sticking a spoon of 'stuff' in his face!!!!! (no offence )

just an idea, but worth a go get a few old newspapers for the floor though but dont worry about the mess, pretend it isn't mealtime just playtime and you might see a change

(p.s yep i think most babies just squish stuff up the first few times then they try them in their mouth/hair/nostrils haha then they start to eat...just give it a bit of time - you should see the state of my kitchen/child after a meal hahaha)

haha mari, no offence taken!! i am a stressed mummy shoving food in his face!!
that's how ifeel anyway!!!!
i will try the finger foods, i just posted in baby babble about finger foods anyway haha
hopefully this makes a difference with him eating
i shall try fishcakes, brocolli trees and some cheese today
thanks guys xxx